New SW/Intertie inverters [RE-wrenches]

Tue Jan 2 17:25:42 PST 2001

Happy new year all of you.

I want to make some comments on the thread of Xantrex responsiveness.  First
I have to remind all of you that I work there as the Off Grid Market Segment
Manager.  I'm a wrench too, and part of my job is to try to break our off
grid equipment at home, which is how I come to be here.  I generally try to
keep fairly quiet on subjects pertaining to Xantrex products and issues for
fear as becoming viewed as some sort of corporate talking head.  This thread
does however pull me out of my shell to make a couple of comments and
observations.

A number of us at Xantrex regularly read and discuss the postings on the
Wrenches list.  Many of you may not know it but you all are a valuable
source of feedback and suggestions. The depth of collective experience with
our products shared in this group is staggering. We'd be plain foolish if we
didn't pay some serious attention to your postings.

I think the suggestion about a concerted effort to contact other inverter
manufacturers is interesting, particularly in view of the apparent lack of
interest from the manufacturers.  I personally can't imagine how any
marketing type worth their salt would have missed the opportunity. Perhaps
the conclusion to draw is that they are not reading or at least paying much
attention to Wrenches.

And finally I'm intrigued by Travis's request for a spare hardware package.
I'm not about to use this forum to make promises I might not be able to
keep.  Never-the-less Travis and Michael, please collaborate on a perfect
spare hardware package parts list and contact me off line.

Thanks to all of you for the lively and informative correspondence.

Ezra Auerbach
Xantrex Technology
360 435 8826 Ext. 2075
eauerbach at traceengineering.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar" <ozsolar at ipa.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: New SW/Intertie inverters [RE-wrenches]

> What success I have had in getting things I want from entities much larger
> and more complex than me has always started by asking for something so
small
> and easy they can't say no.  My 3 yr. old uses a very similar technique
> quite successfully.
>
> I suggest that Michael takes a small request to Trace.  He would be
> representing us and most importantly it would be something we would be
> willing to pay for.
>
> This is my example of something easy that they could do for us.  Wouldn't
it
> be nice if Trace put together a spare hardware kit for installers.  They
use
> a lot of odd ball hardware and I personally have dropped a fair share of
> SWCB and C40 face plate screws never to be found again.  Along with this
kit
> include a little bottle of touch up paint to hide the shipping rubs and
> installation nicks.  It wouldn't cost much and they already have all the
> stuff.  We could all order one and they would see that listening to us
makes
> them money.
>
> We get to record a victory and Trace can get used to how reasonable we are
> to work with.  Of course our requests get a little more complex each time
> along with some easy ones in the middle.
>
> The main problem when fishing for whales in small boats is that you rarely
> catch it and you are so pissed off at your fishing partners you never go
> whaling with them again.  I have gone after some big ones with others and
it
> always happens this way.  My prediction is that no matter how easy the
> request Trace won't do it.  This will show us that they are not interested
> in working with us and we can move on the other manufacturers.  We will
have
> saved a lot of time and aggravation with each other during the process.
>
> Travis Creswell
> ----------
> >From: "Michael Welch, Home Power" <michael.welch at homepower.com>
> >To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> >Subject: Re: New SW/Intertie inverters [RE-wrenches]
> >Date: Tue, Jan 2, 2001, 4:47 PM
> >
>
> >Yup, and this list has already resulted in communication to and pressure
on
> >Xantrex (see Chris Daum's last post). I am just saying that effectiveness
> >could be revved up a couple of notches by an organized effort among us as
> >opposed to the individual effort and passive complaint. Let's not wait
for
> >them to call, let's start pounding on their doors.
> >
> >Michael Welch
>
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>
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>
> For info contact list moderator by email:
>  michael.welch at homepower.com
>
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- - - - - - -
To send a message:
 RE-wrenches at topica.com

The archive of previous messages: 
 http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

To unsubscribe send a message to: 
 RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
 www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine: 
 www.homepower.com

For info contact list moderator by email:
 michael.welch at homepower.com

___________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  http://www.topica.com/t/17
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics